INTEGRITY IN THE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH

The three major granting councils (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR) issued the following statement in January 1994 to promote and encourage the highest standards of integrity in research and scholarship. Integrity includes adhering to such principles as:

  • recognizing the substantive contributions of others, including students; using unpublished work of other researchers and scholars only with permission and with due acknowledgment; and using archival material in accordance with the rules of the archival source;
  • obtaining the permission of the author before using new information, concepts or data originally obtained through access to confidential manuscripts or applications for funds for research or training that may have been seen as a result of processes such as peer review;
  • using scholarly and scientific rigour and integrity in obtaining, recording and analyzing data, and in reporting and publishing results;
  • ensuring that authorship of published work includes all those who have materially contributed to, and share responsibility for, the contents of the publication, and only those people; and,
  • revealing to sponsors, universities, journals or funding agencies, any material conflict of interest, financial or other, that might influence their decisions on whether the individual should be asked to review manuscripts or applications, test products or be permitted to undertake work sponsored from outside sources.
    • These principles should be interpreted with the understanding that research can involve honest error, conflicting data or valid differences in experimental design or in interpretation or judgment of information.

    The primary responsibility for high standards of integrity in research and scholarship rests with the individuals carrying out or supervising these activities. Scientists and scholars have the responsibility of meeting high standards of professional integrity in their research publications or other communications.

    For the university policy, see the university website <http://www.wlu.ca/~wwwroff/policies/tricouncil.shtml>.

    ETHICS IN RESEARCH

    Research Involving Humans
    The Tri-Council Policy Statement on "Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans" <http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/policystatement/policystatement.cfm> establishes the procedures and standards for the ethics review of research involving human subjects across Canada. All graduate student and faculty research projects involving human subjects must be reviewed by the university Research Ethics Board (REB). The procedures to be followed by the researcher and by the REB are described in Section F of "A Guide to Research Funding" <www.wlu.ca/research/policies/humansubjects.shtml>. In addition, documents and forms to assist faculty and students to prepare an ethics review are available at <www.wlu.ca/research/humanethics.shtml>. Contact Sally Gray, Co-ordinator of Research Services (Ext. 3131) for further information or assistance.

    Research Involving Animals
    Under the Ontario Animals for Research Act and the Canadian Council of Animal Care Guidelines for the Care and Use of Experimental Animals, it is a requirement that anyone conducting research or involved in testing or teaching projects which require the use of animals must obtain approval of the Wilfrid Laurier University Animal Care Committee (WLUACC) before commencing the project. There must be an approved protocol for all procedures involving the use of vertebrate and certain invertebrate (in particular, octopi and squid) animals in research by faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, research associates and all other personnel, regardless of source of funding. Protocols for non-faculty members must be submitted under the name of the faculty member supervising the project. All animal research or teaching projects administered by the university that are to be conducted in the field or in a facility not owned by Wilfrid Laurier University, must be covered by an approved protocol. No experiment or project may be initiated until full approval has been obtained. Animal Use Protocol Forms are available on the Research Office web site at <www.wlu.ca/research/animalresearch.shtml>.

    For the university policy see the university website <http://www.wlu.ca/~wwwsecr/policy/11-5.shtml>.

    CONFLICT OF INTEREST

    All academic evaluations, including grading and the writing of reference letters, must be governed by fairness and objectivity. Fairness and objectivity may be, or may be seen to be, compromised or eliminated if the evaluation is initiated or completed, even in part, by a person with whom there is a close relationship (e.g., parent or other family member, partner in an intimate relationship, housemate or a person with whom one has a non-academic financial relationship). If such a relationship exists between a student and an evaluator (e.g., professor, supervisor, tutor, marker, teaching assistant, lab demonstrator or members of comprehensive or thesis examination committees), both parties have a responsibility to declare a potential conflict of interest to the chairperson, associate dean (Business) or dean (Social Work), who shall assist in arranging an alternative evaluation procedure, if necessary.

    For the university policy see the university website <http://www.wlu.ca/~wwwsecr/policy/8-1.shtml>.

    ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH MISCONDUCT
     

    1. Academic misconduct is an act by a student, or by students working on a team project, which may result in a false evaluation of the student(s), or which represents a deliberate attempt to unfairly gain an academic advantage. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following acts which are presented as examples or a guide since not every possible circumstance can be anticipated: plagiarism, which is the unacknowledged presentation, in whole or in part, of the work of others as one's own, whether in written, oral or other form, in an examination, report, thesis or dissertation;
    2. cheating, which involves the using, giving, receiving or the attempt to use, give or receive unauthorized information during an examination in oral, written or other form; or, copying an essay, examination or report, or allowing someone else to copy one's essay, examination or report;
    3. submitting the same piece of work, or a significant part thereof, for more than one course without the permission of the instructors involved in each course; or, submitting a thesis or other work which has been submitted elsewhere, previously or at the same time, without the written permission of all academic units or institutions involved in the submissions;
    4. impersonating another person in an examination or test;
    5. buying term papers or assignments for submission of another person's work as one's own for evaluation;
    6. falsifying, misrepresenting or forging an academic record or supporting document.


    Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following types of behaviour:

    1. the failure to recognize by due acknowledgement the substantive contributions of others, or the use of unpublished work of other researchers without permission, or the use of archival material in violation of the rules of the archival source;
    2. the fabrication or falsification of research data material, or making a purported statement of fact or reference to a source which has been concocted;
    3. the wilful violation of Senate policies, or material failure to comply with Senate policies, as they apply to research ethics, or to the use of computers, human subjects or animals.


    Notes:

    1. Research misconduct does not include those factors intrinsic to the process of academic research, such as honest error, conflicting data, adherence to scholarly or research advice given by faculty, or a difference in interpretation or judgement of data or of experimental design.
    2. Students who are uncertain whether a course of action might constitute academic or research misconduct should consult, in advance, the instructors or supervisors who might be involved, or the dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
    Sanctions
    Sanctions are levied by the university and their severity is determined in relation to the degree of academic or research dishonesty committed or attempted, to the intention to commit dishonest acts, or to the degree to which an individual has been a party to attempted or committed acts of dishonesty. Penalties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
    1. a requirement to repeat the assignment, examination or course;
    2. failure on the assignment, course, examination, thesis or dissertation;
    3. suspension from the program or from the university for a designated period of time;
    4. expulsion from the program or from the university;
    5. cancellation or revocation of the degree or diploma, where the offense pertains to the eligibility to receive such a degree or diploma, whether discovered before or after the degree or diploma is awarded;
    6. inclusion of a statement in the student's transcript pertaining to the suspension or expulsion or to the cancellation or revocation of the degree.
    Procedures for Investigating Allegations of Academic or Research Misconduct
    1. Allegations of academic or research misconduct shall be signed by the complainant and submitted, in writing, to the dean of Graduate Studies and Research (hereinafter referred to as the "dean").
    2. The accused must be informed by the dean of the allegation, in writing, by registered mail, must receive a copy of the allegation and of any supporting documentation, plus a copy of this policy, and shall be given a period of ten (10) days to respond to the complaint, in writing.
    3. Following receipt by the dean of the accused's response, the dean shall provide the accused with an opportunity to meet in an attempt to resolve the issues. If the matter cannot be resolved at this stage, or if the accused declines to respond, or declines to meet with the dean, or in the event that a meeting is held and the dean is not satisfied that the matter can be resolved at this stage, the dean shall inform the accused that a committee of enquiry will be established.
    4. Within a period of two (2) weeks following the completion of the matters referred to under paragraph 3 above, the dean shall establish an ad hoc committee of enquiry (comprised of three (3) senior faculty members from outside the academic sub-unit or department involved, one to serve as chair, who have not been directly involved in the case) to review the evidence, to decide whether the conduct constitutes academic or research misconduct, and, if a prohibited act has been committed, to recommend sanctions to the vice-president: academic.
    5. The committee of enquiry will:
    6. by registered mail or personal service, invite the student to present, in writing, within two (2) weeks of receipt of the letter, all documents which he or she considers relevant to the case. The student will also be requested to indicate whether they do or do not contest the allegation, and whether they do or do not wish to appear before the committee;
    7. solicit any other relevant information which is needed to make a decision;
    8. invite other parties, as necessary, to present relevant information;
    9. recommend to the vice-president: academic within four (4) weeks following the response from the student that:
    10. there is no substance to the allegation and the file should be closed and destroyed, or
    11. there is evidence that the act constitutes academic or research misconduct, including the degree or severity of the act and the degree of intent, and that a specific sanction should be invoked.
    12. The vice-president: academic shall within ten (10) days following receipt of the recommendation from the committee of enquiry notify the student that a recommendation from the committee of enquiry has been received, and what the recommendation is, and shall provide the student with an opportunity to meet before accepting or rejecting the recommendation, and prior to taking any action with respect thereto.
    13. Following the meeting with the student, the vice-president: academic shall make a final decision and shall notify the student, in writing, within a period of ten (10) days following the meeting.
    14. The decision and sanction(s) of the vice-president: academic shall take effect immediately and remain in effect during the time and course of an appeal process, unless the president decides that the sanction can be held in abeyance during the appeal stage.
    15. Within two (2) weeks of receipt of the letter from the vice-president: academic, as provided for under paragraph 7 above, the student may appeal the decision, in writing, to the president. Acceptable grounds of appeal include: a failure on the part of the university to act fairly, the emergence of new evidence, or the failure of the ad hoc committee to consider all of the evidence.
    16. The president shall make a decision within three (3) weeks of receipt of the appeal, and the decision of the president is final.
    In all cases where the student's credibility is in issue, it is essential that the student be given an opportunity to be heard and to call evidence if he or she wishes, on the issue of credibility.

    STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE

    Members of the Laurier community enjoy the freedom to pursue their intellectual and personal interests without interference, provided that their actions do not limit the rights of other members of the university or the community in which it is situated. The objectives of the university are the pursuit of learning through scholarship, teaching and research within a spirit of free inquiry and expression. The university recognizes academic freedom and the right to peaceful protest, acknowledging that the common good of society depends upon the search for knowledge and its free expression. To this end, Wilfrid Laurier University requires that students conduct themselves in accordance with the laws of the country, province, region and municipality, as well as the policies of the university. Academic dishonesty, fraud, wilful misconduct and failure to respect the rights of others are all offences under this code.

    In the case of allegations of either academic or non-academic offences, the president has delegated to the deans and to the vice-presidents of the university the authority to impose interim or permanent discipline. The deans and vice-presidents will establish committees to hear such allegations, unless the situation requires an immediate response. These committees will have appropriate student representation. Nevertheless, any student has the right to be heard by a dean or vice-president alone.

    If the impugned conduct is, in the recommendation of the dean or vice-president, deserving of suspension or expulsion, the president shall make the decision. Disciplinary decisions of the deans (including those of the dean's advisory council) and the vice-presidents may be appealed to the president, whose decision shall be final.

    Students should refer to disciplinary procedures available from deans' offices.

    Discipline and Conduct in Non-Academic Areas
    By enrolling in Wilfrid Laurier University, the student accepts its policies and regulations and acknowledges the right of the university to take disciplinary action. Such disciplinary action shall be reasonable and commensurate with the seriousness of the violations and in accordance with the principles of this code and natural justice. The university reserves the right to discipline the student (including but not limited to, termination of its relationships with the student) on an interim (emergency) or permanent basis for conduct which is detrimental to the objectives of the university.

    Wilfrid Laurier University is properly not concerned with the way students conduct their personal lives, provided their actions do not infringe the rights of others within the university community or the general community comprised of its city neighbours and neighbouring institutions. The university is properly concerned with the behaviour of members of the Laurier community (such as representative teams or delegations) at events off campus either sanctioned by the university or associated with the university. Further, this code specifically prohibits participation in disturbances such as unlawful street parties which infringe the rights of the university's neighbours, and adversely affect its relations with the community in which it is situated.

    In proper cases the university may bring disciplinary action against a student notwithstanding, and in addition to, criminal prosecution or civil action. However, subject to any disciplinary decision and as far as circumstances allow, a student who has been charged or convicted of a criminal offence shall be allowed to pursue his or her studies.

    Behaviour of guests on campus and at university events is the responsibility of the students who have invited them.

    The offences in items 1-9 below will normally be channelled to the dean's advisory council, which (under the authority of the dean of students) may impose penalties for improper conduct. However, in addition to the penalty which may be imposed by the dean's advisory council, further or additional interim or permanent discipline may be imposed by the university, including, but not limited to, the withholding of grades and transcripts, suspension or expulsion from the university, requiring the payment of damages or such other penalty as the university deems appropriate.

    Although all possible acts of misconduct cannot be identified and the following list is not exhaustive, a student may be disciplined by the university for the following offences:

    1. Unlawful use of alcoholic beverages. Students are required to adhere to the provincial laws and the policies of the university governing the possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages.
    2. Violence or abusive conduct of any nature, including but not limited to:
      1. physically abusing another person, threatening or causing any other person to fear physical abuse;
      2. creating a condition which endangers or threatens the health, safety or well-being of others;
      3. assaulting another person sexually or threatening any other person with sexual assault.
    3. Violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code, discrimination or harassment of any kind, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment, harassment based on race, religion, colour, gender, age, disability, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation.
    4. Obstruction or disruption of university activities or services. University activities and services include, but are not limited to, teaching, research, administration, studying, student events, meetings and public services.
    5. Theft, illegal possession, damage and destruction of property, including, but not limited to:
      1. knowingly taking, destroying or damaging premises of the university, or any property not the person's own;
      2. defacing the inside or outside of any building or property of the university;
      3. possession of property appropriated without authorization or possession of property that is not the person's own.
    6. Trafficking of drugs. Although the use of drugs is not condoned by the university, students wishing assistance because of drug use or for any other reason may consult with Counselling Services in absolute confidentiality.
    7. Tampering with fire equipment.
    8. Stealing of any sort.
    9. Storage, possession, or discharge of firearms or explosives, except where allowed by university regulation.
    (Read full text of policy.)

    OWNERSHIP OF STUDENT-CREATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

    Introduction
    While no policy can anticipate or cover all possible situations, this policy is intended to cover the rights of current and former Laurier students, both while attending the university and after they leave the university, whether with or without a degree. Similarly, while it is difficult to provide a definitive definition of intellectual property (IP), the Government of Canada (Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada; "Intellectual Property: What It Means To You") indicates that there are at least six types of IP:

  • Patents, for inventions and the creation of new kinds of technology;
  • Copyrights, for literary, artistic, dramatic and musical works;
  • Trademarks, for words, symbols or pictures used to distinguish the goods or services of one person from those of another;
  • Industrial designs, for the shape, pattern or ornamentation of an industrially-produced object;
  • Integrated circuit topographics;
  • Plant breeders rights.
    • At Laurier, given our mission and types of undergraduate and graduate programs, the most likely type of intellectual property to be created includes theses, dissertations, cognate essays, research papers, books, poems, plays, scripts, essays, articles, dictionaries, maps, lyrics, musical scores, sculptures, paintings, photographs, films, videos, tapes, computer software, databases, records, tapes, cassettes and inventions (new kinds of technology). To be copyrighted, and therefore protected by law, an item must satisfy three criteria: a) it must be an original creation; b) it must be a specific expression of an idea, not the idea itself; and c) the item must be fixed in a physical form. These creations may occur via term papers, theses or dissertations, research or cognate essays, course projects, cases, studio or laboratory assignments, etc.

    Ownership rests initially with the author of the work, unless an author has been employed to create a work, in which case the copyright rests with the employer. It should be stressed, as well, that once a piece of work has been accepted for publication by a journal or a publisher, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, it is the publisher who owns the work. Finally, because a copyright can be held by the creator for life, plus another 50 years, copyright-eligible work created while a student remains his or her property for life, plus an additional 50 years.

    Disputes over ownership, in whole or in part, may occur in team or collaborative work, where many individuals may have contributed to the creation of the work over a lengthy period of time. Disputes may also occur when someone other than the creator (i.e., the student) publishes the work after the student has left the university. Or, disputes may arise over authorship credit or the order of authorship for the work.

    Intellectual Property Rights of Students

    1. Students who submit work to the university (e.g., data sets, exams, tests, computer software, cases, projects, theses, dissertations, lab reports, cognate essays, research papers, musical scores, plays, lyrics, art work, poems, films, etc.) which is eligible for copyright protection, and which is submitted as a requirement of an academic program, are entitled to sole copyright ownership (see requirements for submitting a master's thesis, requirements for submitting a doctoral dissertation and scheduling the oral examination, and submission of approved master's thesis or doctoral dissertation for binding). Works or parts of works created while employed by a professor or a contracting agency are not owned by the student (see #2).
    2. Students have no rights, unless by prior written agreement, to any intellectual property created because of being employed by the university or by a contracting agency. If a thesis/dissertation/cognate essay/research project is to be completed while employed through an external contract or contribution agreement, students must be informed, in writing, of the terms of the contract, including stipulations concerning confidentiality, intellectual property ownership and publications. It is in the interest of students, faculty and the university to ensure that students' publication rights for work completed as a program requirement are protected by the terms of a contract or contribution agreement.
    3. Where the work submitted is part of a team project or a program of research, ownership may be attributed to more than one individual (student, staff, faculty) according to a written agreement signed by all parties who contributed to the work, regardless of the duration of the project or program.
    4. For rights to authorship on papers, books or reports prepared by faculty, there must be a significant intellectual and creative contribution to the work and there must be a sharing of responsibility and accountability for the content of the work by students.
    5. Before a work is submitted for publication, a student co-author must have the right to review and approve the draft manuscript, including the order of authorship.
    6. For a subsequent work based primarily on the student's own dissertation/thesis/research paper/cognate essay/case/musical composition, the student should have the right of first refusal to senior authorship, regardless of whether the final copy of the work is prepared by the student or the professor. Second authorship for a professor is not required, nor should it be expected, if the professor mainly provides encouragement, physical facilities, financial support, critiques, or editorial contributions. In these cases, a footnote acknowledging assistance or a contribution may be sufficient.
    7. Where the research of a student and a professor results in an invention which may be patentable, a memorandum of agreement should be written and signed, with the assistance of the Office of Research and/or lawyers for all parties. In this agreement, the rights of the student, the professor and the university should be identified.
    Dispute Resolution
    Any dispute with respect to the ownership or use of intellectual property created while a student should be dealt with promptly, in accordance with the following procedures.
    1. First, attempt to resolve the matter by discussions with all parties involved in the creation of the work-e.g., faculty member(s), other students, former students, staff, etc. who previously contributed to the work.
    2. If the above procedure does not resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the student or alumnus, submit concerns, in writing, with evidence, to the dean of Graduate Studies and Research, who will strive to serve as an informal mediator to resolve the dispute.
    3. The dean, if unable to resolve the matter, will establish an ad hoc committee of inquiry (comprised of two senior faculty, one to serve as chair, and one graduate student, all from outside the academic sub-unit(s) or department(s) involved) to review the evidence and recommend to the dean, how the matter can be resolved, including a recommendation that the university take disciplinary action against a faculty member or against a student for a malicious or fraudulent complaint.
    4. The recommendation(s) of the committee will be forwarded by the dean to the vice-president: academic for action.
    5. Any disciplinary action taken against a full-time faculty member shall be subject to the provisions of the collective agreement between Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association.
    STYLE GUIDE AND EQUITY IN COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES

    To promote and encourage increased quality, consistency and clarity in all written communications within Laurier, a style guide was approved by the Senate and Board of Governors in December 2001. Students, staff and faculty are encouraged to consult and use this guide, as well as the two reference guides recommended on page one of the style guide.

    PRINCIPLES IN THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

    General
    This policy is presented to provide guidance and assistance to all members of the Wilfrid Laurier University community who provide and use information technology in the conduct of study, research, teaching and administration. It is based on the premise that all members of the WLU community act in a responsible and professional way.

    University information technology facilities include computing devices and associated peripherals, portable computers, communications infrastructure and related equipment, facsimile machines, scanners, copiers, telephones, video and other multimedia devices and all forms of software. Such resources and tools are made available to faculty and staff in support of their teaching, research, and administrative activities and to students in support of their respective academic objectives and requirements. Their use is circumscribed by this policy, the code of student conduct and discipline, the harassment/discrimination policy, the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Copyright Act of Canada, the Criminal Code of Canada, and other applicable legislation.

    Principles

    1. The hardware and licensed software available at WLU are intended for use by the Laurier community. Use of these resources by anyone outside WLU requires approval from the office of the executive director of Information Technology Services. Users shall not disclose confidential passwords, access codes, account numbers or other authorization assigned to them.
    2. Users of information technology are expected to use the systems in a manner that preserves the privacy of others. Users shall not attempt to gain access to the files or directories of another user without clear authorization from the other user. Users shall not attempt to intercept any network communications, such as electronic mail or user-to-user dialogue. Users must not attempt unauthorized access or otherwise interfere with computing and communication installations external to Wilfrid Laurier University using Wilfrid Laurier University computing or communication facilities.
    3. Activities engaged in by users with the intention of interfering with or altering the integrity of computing or communication systems at WLU are unacceptable. Such activities include unauthorized use of accounts, impersonating other individuals in communications, attempts to capture or decode passwords or encryption, and destruction or alteration of data or programs belonging to other users. The wilful introduction of computer viruses into the WLU computing environment or other environments via the WLU network is unacceptable. The intention to restrict or deny access by legitimate users to the system is unacceptable.
    4. Damage, destruction or theft of hardware, software, data or related equipment is unacceptable.
    5. Users must not attempt to access or copy the programs and information belonging to or licensed to Wilfrid Laurier University or to other users unless they have proper authorization to do so. Programs and data may not be moved from one computing system to another without permission. Users are reminded that this applies equally to both microcomputer and mainframe software. The terms and conditions in software licenses vary considerably. The onus is on users/owners to familiarize themselves with their responsibilities and abide by limitations under each agreement.
    6. Users must use computing and communication facilities and services only for the purposes for which they were authorized. Specifically, instructional, research and administrative accounts must not be used for private consulting or sold to other individuals; use of any part of the computing facility for direct personal financial gain (except for appropriate contract and external accounts) or to provide free resources for unauthorized purposes is not allowed. When outside professional activities of users would involve the use of the university's computing and communication facilities, approval shall be obtained from the office of the executive director of Information Technology Services and charges shall be at the prevailing rate (unless the office of the executive director of Information Technology Services agrees to waive all or part of the charges).
    7. Users must be sensitive to the public nature of shared facilities and must not print or display on screens in such locations images, sounds or messages which are likely to create an atmosphere of discomfort or harassment for others.
    8. Users must not use computing and communication facilities to send, print or display obscene, vulgar or harassing messages. Every user bears the primary responsibility for the material he or she chooses to access, send or display. The facilities may not be used in any manner to create, send or display material which contravenes relevant policies or statutes. Users are directed to the provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Criminal Code of Canada for assistance in determining whether any images, sounds or messages may be considered harassing or obscene. Further assistance in this regard may be obtained from Laurier's harassment/discrimination co-ordinator or the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
    9. Users who violate these principles will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the disciplinary procedures. Users unsure of whether their intended use of the university's information technology violates these principles should consult with the office of the executive director of Information Technology Services.
    Procedures for Dealing with Infractions to the Principles in the Use of Information Technology

    Introduction

    1. It is the responsibility of managers to make sure their employees are aware of the Principles in the Use of Information Technology Policy.
    2. Managers are responsible for implementing this policy in their areas. Information Technology Services will provide expertise and advice as required.
    3. Information Technology Services is responsible for initiating disciplinary procedures for violations using the university's networked or centralized systems, including computer labs and e-mail.
    Procedures
    1. When it appears that a user is not fully aware of the policy, it is recommended that the appropriate section of the policy should be brought to their attention by either their manager or Information Technology Services.
    2. Offenses which are violations of criminal and/or civil law may result in immediate loss of all privileges and will be reported to the appropriate university and law enforcement agencies.
    Violations will result in the following disciplinary steps if the individual is not subject to disciplinary procedures specified elsewhere.
    1. A warning to cease the behaviour. At the individual's request, a meeting will be held to review the violation, discuss the warning and allow the individual an opportunity to respond.
    2. Continued violations will result in either a restriction in access to the facilities or a complete suspension of access to the computing facilities. This restriction may be in effect for the equivalent of one full academic term and may span academic years. The appropriate department heads and deans will be notified.
    3. In the process of investigating possible violations, Information Technology Services may temporarily suspend access to facilities.
    4. In extreme cases of abuse or if major damage has occurred, the process will be accelerated.
    SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

    WLU is committed to providing an environment for study, teaching, research, work and recreation for all members of the university community that is supportive of professional and personal development and free from sexual harassment. As such, the university does not condone behaviour on campus that may undermine work relationships or academic achievement and by this policy declares that it will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.

    Sexual harassment is any conduct of a sexual nature such as, but not limited to: sexual abuse, verbal abuse or threats, unwelcome sexual invitations or requests, demands for sexual favours, or unwelcome and repeated innuendos or taunting about a person's body, appearance or sexual orientation.

    Harassment can occur when such conduct 1) is used as a condition of academic status, grades, etc., 2) interferes with the student's academic performance or 3) creates an intimidating and hostile or offensive academic environment.

    For the university policy see the university website <http://www.wlu.ca/~wwwsecr/policy/6-1.shtml>.

    RACE RELATIONS POLICY

    Wilfrid Laurier University shall adhere to the principles of the Ontario Human Rights Code and will continue to recognize and respect the racial, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of our society and will, to the best of its ability and in its policies, adhere to the Code in its dealings with students and employees and others who may be associated with the university community.

    RECORDS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

    Information received by the university in support of an application for admission, all academic and other records, and all examination papers and other material submitted by students as part of their course work at the university, shall be considered the property of the university. Exceptions may be approved by the appropriate dean. As a general rule, all such materials, except for final examination papers and documents submitted in confidence on behalf of a student, may be returned to the student. Graduate students retain the right to publish an approved thesis or dissertation. Materials supplied to students, such as lecture notes, course outlines, or class handouts, etc., shall not be sold or reproduced without the consent of the university.

    Access to students' records, and release of information concerning student records, shall be governed by the general law and by the university's policies with respect thereto.